Friday, February 8, 2013

Fabulous Friday Feature-Gayle Roper

Today I welcome a kind and giving author who is happy to share her experiences to help new writers: Gayle Roper.

Enter to win an autographed copy of Gayle Roper's book Summer Shadows see below

In 2011 I attended my first big writer's conference. I must admit, I felt pretty nervous. Someone suggested I use my appointment times to speak with a mentor. I did.

I spoke with Gayle Roper. A wise and gracious lady who never bragged about her credits, but used the time to help me take the next step in my writing career. As a matter of fact, I didn't know about all her writing achievements until doing the research for today's post, be sure to check out her bio at the end.

Gayle had quite an adventure last year. She tells how God led her on her journey.

200 Days of Wandering . . .

Wondering Why God Picked This Journey For Me

What
do you do when your house sells seven months before your new place is finished?
You move around a bunch and pray the beds won’t kill your back before you
return to your own Sleep Number bed.

At
the end of last May, I stood in my bedroom and tried to decide what clothes I’d need for the next seven months, including those I’d need for 2 writers conferences and
the evening gown for the ACFW Awards Dinner. I went to Walmart and bought
containers into which I packed the items I chose to keep with me and stuffed my selected treasures into the back of my tiny CRV.

The next morning, I hit the road. First stop: the Jersey shore. I sat on my rented porch and
watched the ocean every day for four weeks. Very therapeutic after the loss of
my home of many years (I can’t tell you how many. It’d make me sound old.).

God took me on a whirlwind trip to Canada, Texas, California, Florida, Kansas with periodic stops at the motel in my Pennsylvania
town. I’m now an elite level patron at Marriott. The Pièce de résistance: four days at Disney World, staying at the Grand Floridian, a bucket list
type thing.

photo taken by Gayle Roper

My journey ended as I stepped over the threshold to my new house. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful it was to sink into
my Sleep Number 35 bed my first night in my new home. Now if I could just
figure out my window treatments, I’d be a happy woman.

People ask me if I’m going to write about my traveling adventures. My answer:
I don’t know. I’d need a story to go with the various places I visited. I’ve
already done five books set at the Jersey shore in my fictitious town of
Seaside (Spring Rain, Summer Shadows,
Autumn Dreams, Winter Winds and Shadows
on the Sand), but they took place in only one setting. I visited seven
places on my adventure, counting my motel stops in Pennsylvania.

Should I write a
mystery where the clues take the heroine from locale to locale, finishing with
a great chase through Disney World as Mickey’s Christmas Parade passes by? How
about a road trip of three girlfriends who find out secrets about each other
that test their friendship and faith and bring them to a tearful hug as
Tinkerbelle flies on her wire from Cinderella’s icicle-covered castle to
wherever it is she lands? Or maybe I should try an invitation to seven people in
seven locales to come to the Grand Floridian for a special event that of course
turns sinister as the monorail goes off its track on its way to the Magic
Kingdom, plunging everyone into catastrophe and confusion.

The
beauty of both adventures and stories is that they aren’t predictable. So for
the moment I’m shrugging my shoulders about what to do with the tales of my 200 days of wandering. But I do know that I had a great
time, and isn’t that enough sometimes?

Gayle is the award winning author of more than forty books. She has been a Christy finalist three times for her novels Spring Rain, Summer Shadows, and Winter Winds.Her novel Autumn Dreams won the prestigious Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance.Summer Shadows was voted the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Book of the Year (tied with fellow author Brandilyn Collins).Gayle has won the Holt Medallion three times for The Decision,Caught in a Bind, and Autumn Dreams. The Decision won the Reviewers Choice Award, and Gayle has also won the Award of Excellence for Spring Rain and the Golden Quill for Summer Shadows and Winter Winds. Romantic Times Book Report gave Gayle the Lifetime Achievement Award.

To enter the contest for an autographed copy of Gayle's book,Summer Shadowsleave a comment and become a follower of this site if you aren't already. Include email address in your comment. U.S. residents only. Winner announced next week.

Thank you, Gayle Roper for Joining us This Weekend!

Reader, God has led all of us on unexpected journeys, some short, some long. How has your unexpected journey helped your walk with Christ? You can find Gayle at her website, Facebook

12 comments:

Mary great post today. Gayle I love your books. I'd gotten in late on the action as to why you were homeless on FB. Was so happy for you when your home was completed and you were no longer a nomad. It looked like you had some wonderful adventures though. I do follow this blog faithfully. Blessings to you both and good luck to all who enter, Susan Fryman susanngarrylee@yahoo.com

That is quite a long time away from your "home." But then I think about how our whole life in the time we are in our physical bodies is much like being away from our true eternal home, and 200 days takes on less significant in that regard.

As for a journey that made a spiritual difference, just going a mile or so in a different direction to attend another neighborhood church has made a difference for me. I have found a church which is a better fit for me. I have had spiritual growth, and found some Christian friends who I enjoy doing things with outside of just meeting at church.

I have not read any of the books written by Gayle. I have seen her name when looking for books in the Christian offerings. It would be great to win her book and enjoy her excellent award winning writing.

Mary, I really enjoyed this interview with Gayle. She's had a very awarding journey in her writing life it seems. And, 200 days would be a long vacation. A long time to be away from your home. And, I bet you did enjoy being back in your own bed. I learned that tho I enjoyed visits with my parents and kids, it was always good to be back in my own home.i don't remember any really unexpected journey GOD has sent me on. Just a good life with loving HIM. Would love to win this book and have my first of Gayle's books. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

Janice,How good it is that you found a church to attend. There are many churches, but seems like there is always a one special church that meets our spiritual needs and has a need for our gifts. So glad you found you place.

Thanks for all your sympathy about my 200 days. I appreciate it. I find it interesting that the journey ended at such a round number. Wasn't planned that way at all. But you're all right. There's no place like home!Gayle

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